Sheet decurling apparatus



- 9 4 o. HAYES 2,339,071 v k 51mm nmcurinme APPARATUS" Filed 0%,,24.1941 '5 Sheets-Sheet 1' AT TORNE Y5 vJan. '11; 1944.} o. HAYES Q SHEETDECURLING APPARATUS 'F'iled Oct, 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 1Lynn 0. Hayes I W w AT TOR/van L. o. HAYEs' SHEET DECURLING APPARATUS IJam- 11,1944.

F iled om. 24, 1941", 5 Sheets- She et s AT TORNEYS Jan. 11,1944. HAYESI 2,339,071

SHEET DECURLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24. 1941 r 5 sheets-sheet s'INVEIVTOR. 1

Lyn/70. Hayes ATTORNEYS I Patented Jan. 11, 1944 2,339,071 SHEETDECURLING APPARATUS Lynn 0. Hayes,- St. Louis, Mo., assignor to F. L.

Smithc Machine 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application October 24, 1941, Serial No. 416,294

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet decurling apparatus, andespecially to such apparatus adapted for removing the curl fromthetrailing portion of a traveling sheet or blank. It is especiallyadapted to decurling the closure flaps of envelope blanks while theblanks travel through an envelope folding machine, eliminating the curlin such flap caused by the dried gum extending along the flap margin.

A general purpose of the invention is to provide an improved decurlingconstruction which may be shifted into and out of decurling engagementwith a traveling sheet or blank in appropriate timed relation to thetravel of the blank. A further purpose is the provision of suchapparatuswhich is adapted to be mounted on and actuated by standard machines, inwhich the sheets or blanks are continuously conveyed in series tosuccessive operating devices, such as flap gumming and foldingmechanisms.

Another purpose is the provision of a novel arrangement for adjustingthe relationship of the decurling members to adapt the apparatus todifferent conditions and types of sheet material; and in the preferredform the invention includes a construction for adjusting the decurlingmembers both ongitudinally of and transversely to the path of the sheetsor blanks.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon theinvention disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No.416,293, filed October 24, 1941. No claim is made herein to the featureof adjusting the guide memher and the decurling member relative to oneanother longitudinally of the sheet path for the reason that thatsubject-matter is claimed in the copending application referred to.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a decurling apparatusincorporated in an envelope folding machine, with parts omitted, showingthe decurling apparatus in non-operating position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the apparatus in operative or decurlingposition; Fig. 3 is a plan view of an envelope blank wit the closureflap trailing in position for decurling:

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fi 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 withparts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the mountingand arrangement of the decurlin members;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified construction ininoperative position:

Fig. 8 is a. similar view of the modified construction in operativeposition; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the modified construction viewed from line8-8 of Fig. 7.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the decurling apparatusis mounted on an envelo e folding machine and is actuated by the drivemechanism of such machine, which advantageously is of the type shown inthe patent to Abraham Novick, No. 1 807.867 issued June 2. 1931. Inmachines of this type the envelope blank is subjected to a series ofoperations including folding the side flaps. summing the bottom fiap,folding the bottom fiap into adhesive engagement with the side flaps,and finally folding the closure fiap into place. While the decurlingapparatus maybe located at diflerent stages in the folding. perations,it is advantageously arranged to decurl the closure fiap after thebottom fiap has been folded into place and immediately preceding thefinal folding of the closure flap. Moreover, the decurling apparatus isespecially designed and adapted for location between blank advancingdevices such as pairs of rolls, and is constructed and arranged topermit free passage of the advance margin of the blank from the firstpair of rolls to the second pair, thereafter coming into decurlingengagement with the trailing flap portion of the blank after the latterhas been engaged by the second pair of rolls, and advantageously afterthe fiap has been released by the first pair.

In the illustrated arrangement the envelope folding machine includes apair of side frames in carrying two pair of feed rolls H, I2 and. 13, Msuitably driven in known manner to advance the envelope blank IS, withclosure flap is trailing, along aligned table sections II, it and I9.

Table section i8 is mounted on suitable cars 20, Fig. 4, on frame 10 byscrews 2|. The decurling apparatus includes two members extendingtransversely at opposite sides of the envelope path and spaced therefromwhen in inoperative position, one member being movable into overlappingrelationship to the other member while the envelope blank is passingbetween the members, the arrangement being such that the curled portionof the flap is bent across the second memher and is decurled by beingdrawn across said member by rolls it an H The decurling members andtheir actuating 5 mechanism are arranged for support by the frames in;and in the preierred embodiment illustrated are mounted on table sectionIt. In this particular construction the upper member 22 is stationaryand consists of a fiat bar 28 extending A suitable construction isadvantageously pro-- vided for adjusting the upper decurling member 22longitudinally or the envelope path. This is conveniently accomplishedin the illustrated arrangement by providing each mounting flange 25 witha transverse slot 26, Fig. 6, fitting an mounted on and actuated by thedrive of the folding machine.

- A suitable construction is advantageously provided for adjusting theposition of the upper decurling member 22 relative to the lowerdecurling member 35 transversely to the envelope path,

eccentric shank 21 01 adjusting post 28, the-head 29 or which extendsover and engages mounting flange 25 at either side of slot 25 and isheld in position by mounting screw 30 threaded into table section I8,Fig. 4. Screw I is eccentric to shank 21, but is advantageouslyconcentric with head 29 and countersunk therein, the arrangement beingsuch that by releasing screws the adjusting posts 28 may be rotated toshirt the ends oi upper decurling member 22, slots being or sumcientlength to permit proper positioning of the mem-' ber with relation tothe sides or the envelope path. Member 22 maythen be clamped in adjustedp0 sition by tightening screws 80. v

The lower decurling member 35 comprises a fiat bar 25 located a shortdistance to the rear of upper bar 28 with relation to the direction oftravel oi! the blanks i5, bar-.35 being located below the level of the'upper races 01 table sections i8 and i9 when in inoperative position,and being movable upwardly between said sections into overlappingjuxtaposition to the lower margin 01 bar 28 (or decurling the flap i5.Suitable mechanism carried by i'rames III is provided for supporting andshifting the lower decurling member 35 between operative and inoperativepositions. In the illustrated embodiment decurling member 35 is mountedon table section it. For this purpose bar 85 is provided at each endwith an upward extension 21 carrying a pin 38 Journaled in the lower endoi hanger links 29 which are journaled on liit rod 40. Rock arms 4i arefixed to rod 40 in contact with links 38, and the end of each arm 4| isjournaled on a headed pivot pin 42 mounted on a standard 43 attached totable section II by screw 44. Each hanger link as is appropriately heldin place on rod 40 as by collar 24 fixed to said rod.

An appropriate construction for raising and lowering, liit rod 40 tomove decurling member 35 to and from operative position is provided, andin the form shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 includes a lift arm 45 fixed to anend of rod 40 extending through opening 45 in a frame Ill. Am 45 isprovided with a longitudinal slot 41 in which pivot pin 48 is adjustablyclamped, the pivot pin including a headed collar 45 slidable in slot 41and 'threaded on the shank oi pivot screw 50 having an enlarged pivotsection 5}, arrangedso that by tightening screw 50 with the pivot 45 inappropriate position in slot 41 the collar 48 and washer thereby varyingthe amount of overlap between the members and the resulting decurlingaction. This is accomplished by varying the throw of drive link 53through adjustment of pivot pin 48 in slot 41; but it may be done alsoby an adjustment that does not change materially the throw or stroke orthe oscillating frame which supports member 35. In the illustratedconstruction this is accomplished by constructing pivot pin 42 with anend portion 55 rotatable in standard 43, and a body 56 eccentric to theend 55 and rotatable in a bore in rock arm 4i, set screw 51 in standard43 engaging the pivot end 55 to hold the body 55 in adjusted position.

A suitable guide construction is provided for guides slidably engaged byend portions oi bar 35 or extensions thereof. In the form illustrated inFigs. 1, 4 and 5 each bar extension 31 slidably fits a vertical guideway58 in the contiguous standard 43.

A modified construction for supporting and actuating the decurlingmembers 22 and 35 is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. In this arrangementeach pin 38 on the lower decurling member 35 is journaled in the lowerend of an elongated hanger link 60, which is held on the pin 50:: bycollar 5! and set screw 52. The upper end of each link 60 is pivoted onheaded pivot pin 53 carried by rock arm 64 fixed to rock shaft 55 as bysplit clamp 66. Shaft 65 is joumaled in ears 5'! on standards 65 fixedto frames in by screws 55, and is held in place by collors 1i. Shaft 55is rocked by arm 10 fixed to its outer end, arm 10 being constructed,arranged and actuated in the same way as'arm 45 above described.

In thisembodiment a suitable construction is. provided for adjustingthe'position or the lower decurling member 35 longitudinally to the pathof the blanks, thereby varying the spacing between said member and theupper decurling member 22 when the members are in operative position.This is in general accomplished by providing a guide constructioncontrolling the path of movement 01' the member 85, and adjusting theposition of such guide construction.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 this construction includes aslot or guideway 14' at each side of the path of the blanks formedbetween guide flanges 15 on guide arm 16 and slidably fitting eachupward extension 31 of decurling member 36. Each guide arm 18 is mountedfor the requisite longitudinal adjustment, as by pivoting the arm abovethe uppermost position of decurling member 35 by means of pivot pin l'lthreaded into arm 16 and countersunk in a suitable bore in standard 68.Arm 18 is clamped in adjusted position as by clamp screw 18 threadedinto standard 68 through adjustment slot 18, Fig. 8, in arm 15. Byreleasing screw 18 the upper end oi. arm 76 may be shifted, moving guideflanges 15 about pivot 11 and shifting the lower decurling member 35longitudinally'oi the blank path, the distance between said member andpivot pin 17 being such that the change in the angle of said member isinsuificient to aflect the decurling operation.

' In this construction table sections l8 and II are spaced sufficientlyto permit the requisite longitudinal adjustment of member 25; and theupper decurling member 22 may be held in fixed position on table section18, though this showing is illustrative rather than restrictive, sinceobviously the adjustable mounting for member 22 disclosed in theembodiment first described may be employed in that shown in Figs. 7, 8and 9 if it is considered desirable.

' the bight of rollers I3 and H. During this operation the lowerdecurling member 35 is in lowermost position with its upper margin belowthe level of the table sections 18 and I9, so that the blank l may passover member 35 without interference. The upper member 22 is clearof thenormal path of the blank; but if the blank should be accidentallydeflected upwardly into contact with member 32,- the downwardly inclinedguide face 3| will guide the blank edge under member 22 and avoidinterference with the advance of the blank to rollers l3, ll.

The rollers are arranged so that-rollers 13, II will engage the blank [5before it is completely released by rollers H, I2; and the decurlingmembers 22, 35 are positioned and actuated so that they will come intodecurling engagementwith the forward portion of the trailing closureflap it after the blank l5 has been engaged by rollers l3, l4 andreleasedbyrollers ll; l2. When lower decurling member-35 is raised intooperative position by cam action on drive link 53 the fiap It will bebent over the decurling edge 32 of member 35 by guide edge 33 ofdecurling member 22, as shown in Fig. 2; and the curl in flap [5 will bestraightened by drawing the fiap across edge 32 in the indicated bentposition through the action of rollers i 3, M.

The decurling action, as well as the adaptabile ity of the device todifferent types of sheet material, is regulated either by varying thespacing. of members 22 and 35 in the direction of sheet travel, byvarying the extent to which member 35 overlaps member 22 when inoperative position, or by a combination of these two adjustments. In thearrangement shown in Fig. 1 the adjacent margin of table sections I8 andI9 may be appropriately spaced to serve as guides for the lowerdecurling member 25. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 7-9 thecorresponding margins of table sections 18 and I9 are sufflcientlyspaced to permit adjustment of lower decurling member 35 lengthwise ofthe sheet path without interference with said table sections. Theengagement of member 35'with the proper portion of the envelope blank isassured by actuating the decurling device from the folding machine drivein obvious manner.

The disclosed construction is compact, convenient and capable of readyassembly and disassembly in whole or in part. It is arranged to providea compact unit which can be separately assembled and rapidly and readilyapplied to or removed from an envelope folding machine. It is inparticular arranged to fit between pairs of sheet feeding rollers ofstandard type and arrangement. Moreover, the decurling members areprovided with separate adjustments at eac side of the sheet path so thataccurate alignment, parallelism and spacing may be readily obtained. a 6I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of myinvention. I do not wish,

however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire tocover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim: I

1. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising registering decurling memberslocated on opposite sides of the path of a traveling sheet, actuatingmechanism for shifting one of the members into decurling positionadjacent to and overlapping the other member, and adjusting mechanismfor varying the location of the latter member in decurling position in adirection transverse to the path of the sheet, thereby varying theextent of 20 overlap of the members.

'2. Sheet decurling apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which theactuating mechanism comprises a reciprocating frame operativelyconnected to a movable decurling member and in which the adjustingdevice varies the position of. the 4 frame at one limit of itsreciprocating movement. 3. Sheet decurling apparatus as set forth inclaim 1 in which the actuating mechanism in- I cludes a rocking framesupporting a movable decurling member and a reciprocating actuatingelement having a radially adjustable engagement with the frame. a v

4. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising registering decurling members onopposite sides of the plane of a traveling sheet, actuating mechanismfor shifting a member into decurling position adjacent to andoverlapping the other member including a reciprocating frame carryingthe shifted member and a support for the frame, and an t adjusting,device arranged to shift the position of the frame on the support in adirection trans-l, verse to the plane of the sheet, thereby varying, theextent of such overlap.

5. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising a stationary decurling memberlocated at one side of the plane of a traveling sheet, a. registeringmovable decurling member at the other side of said plane, actuatingmechanism for shifting the movable member into decurling positionadjacent to and overlapping the stationary member, and a device foradjusting the spacing of said members in decurling position in thedirection of sheet travel.

6. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising registering decurling members onopposite sides of the plane of a traveling sheet, and actuatingmechanism for moving a first decurling member from a position below saidplane into decurling position adjacent to and overlapping the othermember, including a reciprocating frame above said plane and supportsconnecting the moving member with the frame and extending a'cross theplane of the traveling sheet at either side of the sheet path.

'7. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising a stationary decurling memberlocated at one side of the plane of a traveling sheet, a registeringmovable decurling member at the other side of said plane, actuatingmechanism for shifting the movable member into decurling positionadjacent to and overlapping the stationary member, and a device foradjusting the spacing of said members in decurling position in thedirection of sheet travel. including a support for the movable memberand an adjustable guideway construction entionarv decurlinc memberlocated at one side or the plane oi a traveling sheet. a registeringmovable decurling member at the other side of said plane. actuatingmechanism for shifting the movable member into decurling positionadjacent to and overlapping the stationary member. and a device foradjusting the spacing of said members in decuriing position in thedirection of sheet travel. including a pivoted auideway for the movabledecurling member adjustable about its pivot tovshiit the path or saidmovable member.

i and overlapping the stationary member, and 2.

9. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising a stationary decurlina memberlocated at one side of the plane or traveling sheet, a registeringmovable decurling member at the other side of said plane, actuatingmechanism for shifting the m'ovable member into decurling positionadjacent to device for adjusting the spacing of said members indecurlin-g position in the direction of sheet travel, including aguideway structure adjustable in the direction of sheet "travel, themovable decurling member having end portions slidingly engaging theguideway structure.

1 LYNN O. HAYES.

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